Colombia's President Santos legalizes use of medical marijuana

BOGOTA, Dec 22 (Reuters) - Colombia's President Juan Manuel
Santos on Tuesday signed a decree that legalizes medical
marijuana, a move he says does not weaken the government's fight
against illicit crops and drug trafficking.

The decree allows therapeutic use of marijuana, Santos said.

"Allowing the use of marijuana does not go against our
international commitments to control drugs or against our policy
of fighting drug trafficking," Santos told reporters after
signing the decree.

Growing, distributing and selling cannabis remains illegal.
The South American country suspended spraying of illicit crops
this year, citing cancer concerns related to the herbicide
glyphosate.

Current law allows possession of up to 20 grams of marijuana
or 20 marijuana plants for personal use. A recent study showed
11.5 percent of Colombians have used marijuana at least once.

The government said some companies, including foreign ones,
are interested in producing and selling cannabis. There are no
plans to fully legalize marijuana for recreational consumption
or commercial sale, however, unlike in Uruguay, which fully
legalized it in 2013.

Colombia, long a hub for narcotics production and
trafficking, was once home to large marijuana cultivations. Much
of the crop was smuggled to the United States before drug
cartels began producing the more profitable cocaine.